US embassy cable - 05LAGOS1742

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 LAGOS 001742 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE PASS FAA FOR ACONLEY, 
TRANSPORTATION FOR FAA; DAKAR PLEASE PASS TO FAA REP ED 
JONES; ROME PLEASE PASS TO TSA REP JOHN HALINSKI 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAIR, EINV, PREL, NI 
SUBJECT: AIRPORT AND SEAPORT SECURITY ASSESSMENT 
 
 
 1. (SBU) Summary.  Members of the Nigerian Ports Authority 
(NPA), the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), and 
the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) met with the 
Contingency and Security Solutions International (CSSI) team 
October 17-18 to discuss efforts to improve maritime port and 
aviation security, seaport and airport modernization, and 
areas in which U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) 
funding could be possible.  FAAN and NCAA officials 
emphasized the need for more training, including the 
establishment of regional aviation security training centers, 
and requested assistance modernizing their operations and 
upgrading management capacity.  End Summary. 
 
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Background 
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2. (SBU) USTDA sent a Definitional Mission to Nigeria in 
November 2002 to review several port sector projects that 
were presented to USTDA by the NPA.  Specifically, four 
projects were reviewed to tackle problems in the Nigerian 
port sector: the creation of an integrated computerization 
system to operate and manage the Nigerian ports system, 
improving efficiency in Lagos Ports Complex (Apapa Port, 
Apapa Container Port Terminal, Roro Port and Tin Can Island 
Container Port Terminal), expanding the Onne Free Port Zone, 
and developing a Deep-Sea port in Nigeria. 
 
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Integrated Computerized System for Ports Requested 
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3. (SBU) The CSSI team met the CEO of NPA, Adebayo Sarunmi, 
at NPA headquarters on October 17 to discuss modernizing 
Nigeria's seaports.  Adebayo said three port terminals were 
constructed through USG assistance and stated the development 
of a Deep-Sea port and the Niger Dock improvement project 
were underway.  He requested USTDA assistance to build an 
integrated computer port management system to trace equipment 
and containers and to integrate the computers at the NPA 
offices with computers at the ports.  He complained Nigeria 
should be the maritime hub for West Africa, but that customs 
delays, fiscal difficulties, and a  host of other 
inefficiencies caused Nigeria to lose out to different ports. 
 He believed the automated computer project would improve NPA 
efficiency.  Sarunmi also welcomed USG assistance in creating 
a regional maritime security-training center, but mentioned 
that a British security-consulting firm currently offered 
port security courses that met NPA training needs. 
 
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Airport Security And Establishment 
of West African Security Training Center 
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4. (SBU) The CSSI team met FAAN Aviation Security General 
Manager Adeshola Faworaja and Director of Airport Operations 
Desmond Ugwu on October 17 to discuss airport security. 
Faworaja asked for USG assistance in acquiring check baggage 
screening equipment including drug detection equipment.  In 
addition, she requested help obtaining x-ray and explosive 
trace screening machines, an access control system, video 
surveillance equipment, and assistance in upgrading runway 
lighting and signage.  Declaring background security checks 
on employees were not adequate, Faworaja welcomed CSSI's 
proposal regarding the establishment of an USTDA-sponsored 
regional aviation security-training center in Lagos. 
 
5. (SBU) The Director of the Directorate of Aviation Safety 
and Security, Balarabe Usman, told us October 17 that recent 
firings and administrative changes within FAAN would not 
affect FAAN's focus on security.  He said security would 
remain the most important priority for him.  He said he told 
President Obasanjo when appointed Director, that "airports 
are a national monument, any attack on the airport is an 
attack on the nation, and that FAAN does not want to 
compromise security".  Usman emphasized that while he 
supports privatization of airports, security regulations and 
operations would remain within his organization's domain. 
 
6. (SBU) NCAA Director General Fidelis Onyeyiri met the CSSI 
team on October 18 to discuss the NPA record on airport 
security and requested assistance in creating an airport 
operations manual.  He said Aviation Minister Borishade was 
interested in requesting DOT/FAA assistance developing NCAA 
regulations, particularly security and aerodrome regulations. 
 Onyeyiri also said visitor security was a major problem and 
requested screening machines including magnatometers, metal 
detectors, trace detectors and x-ray machines to improve 
airport security. 
 
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Comment 
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7. (SBU) The October 17-18 Lagos meetings highlighted the 
areas in which the NPA, FAAN, and NCAA could benefit from USG 
assistance.  Nigerian seaports are notorious for long delays, 
congestion, equipment breakdown, and lack of proper 
maintenance procedures and schedules.  Nigerian airports have 
had problems with runway safety, aquaplaning, on-ground 
communications, security, and flight delays.  Upgrading 
marine port and aviation security is crucial if Nigeria is to 
reach its maritime and aviation potential.  FAAN and NCAA 
welcome the idea of a regional aviation security training 
concept. 
 
8. (SBU) The CSSI team had serious concerns about the ability 
of international or domestic terrorists to block access to 
all Nigeria's ports by sinking a single ship in the 
relatively narrow channel.  The NPA expressed a strong desire 
for increased waterfront security.  The NPA envisioned the 
need for a well-trained and supervised maritime patrol unit 
to provide waterside protection for the ports and also for 
ships anchored off-shore awaiting entrance to the ports. 
This could deter piracy, which the NPA has stated has become 
a problem.  End Comment. 
 
Members of the USG team included: CSSI CEO Clayton Scott, 
CSSI Security Consultant David Ryder, and Econoff/notetaker 
Ken Reiman. 
 
This cable has been cleared by Contingency and Security 
Solutions International CEO Clayton S. Scott. 
BROWNE